Iran's internet will return to normal by the end of the week, announced Hossein Afshin, Iranian Vice-President for Science Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy, in an interview with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-linked Tasnim News Agency on Monday.
Afshin declared that "by order of the president, nationwide internet access will be restored from today to tomorrow and at the latest by the end of the week," which in Iran is considered to be on Friday.
He also stated that fixed IPs are being considered for large companies, though the Human Rights Activists in Iran organization (HRA) notes that this solution is considered inadequate by critics of the regime, as service cycles and the digital economy would remain disrupted.
No guarantee Iran will return to previous internet conditions
The HRA also claimed that, even if the regime restored Iran's internet, it is uncertain whether it would return to previous conditions. They quoted the head of the Digital Transformation Commission of the Iran Computer Guild Organization, who stated that "at present, reconnecting foreign platforms is not possible."
"This stance highlights the gap between 'internet connectivity' and 'meaningful access,' suggesting that communications policy may move toward a restricted, selective internet based on heightened control," the HRA said.
The internet blackout in Iran began on January 8, at around 8:30 p.m. It came during a period of nationwide anti-regime protest activity across the Islamic Republic.